Aloe plant named ‘OVROCKS04’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Aloe plant named ‘OVROCKS04’ which is characterized by a broad obovate plant form with foliage arranged in an upright basal rosette, dark green succulent foliage bearing small light green protuberances and large white spine-like teeth along the leaf margins, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Aloe hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Aloe disclosed herein hasbeen given the variety denomination ‘OVROCKS04’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVROCKS04’ is a seedling selection resulting from thecontrolled pollination of an unnamed Aloe striata plant (unpatented),the seed parent, with Aloe hybrid Hercules (unpatented), the pollenparent. The crossing was made by the inventor in January of 2010 at agreenhouse in Fallbrook, Calif. In March of 2011, one seedling wasobserved which exhibited a unique growth habit and substantiallydifferent foliage characteristics when compared to the parent plants andall other progeny. After confirming the stability of the uniquecharacteristics first observed, the new plant was selected forcommercialization and given the name, ‘OVROCKS04’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘OVROCKS04’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inMarch of 2010 at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands.The claimed plant has since been asexually propagated by way ofmeristematic tissue culture propagation. Through five subsequentgenerations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to bestable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVROCKS04’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘OVROCKS04’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘OVROCKS04’ as a new and distinct Aloe cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVROCKS04’ exhibits a broad obovate plant form with foliage        arranged in a basal rosette; and    -   2. ‘OVROCKS04’ exhibits dark green succulent foliage which is        held upright; and    -   3. ‘OVROCKS04’ exhibits coarsely dentate leaf margins with an        abundance of white spine-like teeth; and    -   4. ‘OVROCKS04’ exhibits small light green protuberances along        the midrib of the upper leaf surface; and    -   5. ‘OVROCKS04’ exhibits a moderate abundance of small        yellow-green protuberances on the lower leaf surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘OVROCKS04’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 18 months old, shown planted ina 17 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘OVROCKS04’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in June of 2017describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 18 months old‘OVROCKS04’ plants grown in 17 cm nursery containers at a commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Aloe which consisted ofminimal overhead irrigation and fertilizer applications. No pest ordisease control measures were utilized in production. Plants were grownunder partial shade (approximately 20,000 lux) and no photoperiodictreatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVROCKS04’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVROCKS04’ and comparisons with the parentsand closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in an            upright, non-branched basal rosette, eventually forming a            stem-like structure.        -   Plant form.—Broad obovate.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—29.6 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 30.9 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 2 months at 21 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 18 months to produce a marketable plant in a 9            cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a basal rosettes, eventually            forming a short, unbranched stem with age; no lateral            branching.        -   Quantity of main stems.—1.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—None.        -   Main stem dimensions.—10.0 cm long and 2.3 cm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—0.6 cm.        -   Cross section.—Rounded, formed by leaf sheaths.        -   Attitude.—Nearly vertical.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous and matte.        -   Color, when developing.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D.        -   Color of mature stem.—Nearest to in between yellow-green,            RHS 150D, and green-white, RHS 157D.        -   Color at internodes.—Nearest to in between yellow-green, RHS            150D, and green-white, RHS 157D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally placed in a rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 22 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate succulent leaves.        -   Dimensions.—22.4 cm long, 4.9 cm wide, and 1.0 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Flat to slightly concave.        -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 50 degrees to the soil            level.        -   Apex.—Narrow bluntly acute, with an average of 4 soft            mucronate tips.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Sheath.—Sheath dimensions — 2.5 cm long and 1.4 cm wide, on            average. Sheath color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D.        -   Margin.—Coarsely dentate; prominent teeth have an average            length of 0.3 cm and are colored white, nearest to RHS 155C.            Margins are not undulated or lobed.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous; midrib is occasionally            very sparsely to sparsely covered with protuberances,            presenting as small soft spines; on average, spines are 0.1            cm in diameter and 0.1 cm high.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous; veins are moderately            covered with protuberances, presenting as small soft spines;            on average, spines are 0.1 cm in diameter and 0.1 cm high.        -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS NN137A, and fading to yellow-green towards the base,            nearest to RHS 144B. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface —            Green, nearest to a combination of RHS NN137A and NN137B,            and fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to a            combination of RHS 144B and 144C; protuberances are colored            yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C. Mature foliage, adaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green, RHS NN137A, and            yellow-green, RHS 147A; spines are yellow-green, nearest to            a mixture of RHS 144A and 144B. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green, RHS NN137A, and            yellow-green, RHS 147A; spines are yellow-green, nearest to            a mixture of RHS 144A and 144B. Venation — No venation is            visible. Pattern — Parallel; only the midrib is visible on            the adaxial surface. Color, adaxial surface — Nearest to in            between green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A, but            considerably darker. Color, abaxial surface — Nearest to in            between green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A, but            slightly darker.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS04’ differ from the seed parent, anunnamed Aloe striata plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

COMPARISON WITH SEED PARENT

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS04’ The seed parent. General colorationof Darker green. Lighter green. entire rosette. Foliage size. Smallerthan the seed Larger than parent. ‘OVROCKS04’. Foliage margins. Coarselydentate with Dentate with smaller, less larger, more prominent prominentteeth. teeth.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS04’ differ from the pollen parent,Aloe ‘Hercules’ (not patented), in the following characteristicsdescribed in Table 2 below.

COMPARISON WITH POLLEN PARENT

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS04’ ‘Hercules’ Foliage attitude. Moreupright than Less upright than ‘Hercules’. ‘OVROCKS04’. Generalcoloration of Darker green. Lighter green. entire rosette. Abundance offoliage. More abundant. Less abundant. Foliage size. More narrow thanthe Wider than pollen parent. ‘OVROCKS04’. Presence of spine-likePresent. None present. protuberances on the foliage. Foliage margins.Coarsely dentate, with Entire; not dentate. prominent teeth.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS04’ differ from the commercialvariety, Aloe rauhii ‘OVALJAWS’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,328) in thefollowing characteristics described in Table 3 below.

COMPARISON WITH COMPARISON PLANT

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS04’ ‘OVALJAWS’ Growth habit. Lesscompact. More compact. Abundance of the spine- More abundant on the Lessabundant on the like protuberances on abaxial leaf surface. abaxial leafsurface. the foliage. Length of foliage. Longer than Shorter than‘OVALJAWS’ ‘OVROCKS04’. Foliage margins. Coarsely dentate with Dentatewith smaller larger spine-like teeth. spine-like teeth. Generalcoloration of White, nearest to RHS White, nearest to RHS teeth alongthe leaf 155C. NN155D. margins.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aloe plantnamed ‘OVROCKS04’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.